Structural element

ABSTRACT

A STRUCTURAL ELEMENT WHICH IS PARTICULARLY SUITABLE FOR USE IN THE ERECTION OF WALL STRUCTURES. THE ELEMENT COMPRISES AT LEAST ONE BLOCK OF VITREOUS MATERIAL. THIS BLOCK HAS A FIRST AND A SECOND MAJOR SURFACE ANS AT LEAST ONE OF THESE MAJOR SURFACE IN AT LEAST IN PART INCLINED TO A CENTRAL PLANE OF THE BLOCK WHEREBY THE THUS-INCLINED PORTION   HAS A PREDETERMINED RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CENTRAL PLANE OF THE BLOCK AS WELL AS WITH A GENERAL PLANE OF THE STRUCTURAL ELEMENT.

March 9 1971 Original Filed June 8, 1967 G. GRABOW STRUCTURAL ELEMENT 5Sheets-Sheet l March 9, 1971 G. GRABOW 3,568,387

STRUCTURAL ELEMENT Original Filed June 8, 1967 5 SheetS-Sheot 2 March 9,1971 G. GRABOW 3,568,387

STRUCTURAL ELEMENT Original Filed June 8, 1967 5 Sheets-Shoat Li Fig.111.8"

March 9, 1971 GRABOW I 3,568,387

STRUCTURAL ELEMENT Original Filed June 8, 1967 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 I 1.0ML" q, r, 1.. MS

March 9, 1971- G. GRABOW STRUCTURAL ELEMENT 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 OriginalFiled June 8, 1967 United States Patent Olhce 3,568,387 Patented Mar. 9,1971 3,568,387 STRUCTURAL ELEMENT Giinter Grabow, 42 Rosenstrasse, 7024Bernhausen, Germany Continuation of application Ser. No. 644,557, June8, 1967. This application May 7, 1969, Ser. No. 824,739 Claims priority,application Germany, June 13, 1966, G 47,147; Oct. 11, 1966, G 35,588Int. Cl. E04b 2/14; E04c 1/42 US. Cl. 52-306 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE A structural element which is particularly suitable for usein the erection of wall structures. The element comprises at least oneblock of vitreous material. This block has a first and a second majorsurface and at least one of these major surfaces is at least in partinclined to a central plane of the block whereby the thus-inclinedportion has a predetermined relationship with the central plane of theblock as well as with a general plane of the structural element.

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 644,557,filed June 8, 1967, which is now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to structuralelements in general, and more particularly to structural elements foruse in wall structures. Still more particularly, the present inventionrelates to structural elements including blocks of vitreous material.

It is known to construct walls and the like from blocks of vitreousmaterial, and more particularly from blocks constituted from glass.Usually, these blocks are of quadratic or rectangular outline and arehollow, and both sides of the blocks are exposed when the wall structureis completed. The transverse surfaces which connect the major surfacesof these blocks are invariably of rectangular outline. Because it is notusually desired that walls constructed from such blocks be transparent,it is customary to provide glass blocks of this type with ridges,depressions, or various geometric projections or concavities. Suchtreatment of the exposed major surfaces of the blocks not only makes itimpossible to clearly see through them but also enhances the aestheticappearance of the wall constructed from such blocks. However, theysuffer from various considerable disadvantages one of which is the factthat much of the light which impinges on one face of a wall constructedfrom such blocks is lost at the joint between adjacent blocks, where theinfluence on the propagation of light waves is different from the affecton these light waves over the major surface of the respective block.Consequently, much light is lost at the joint of two adjacent blocks andthe light transmissivity of such walls is therefore relatively poor.Furthermore, the fact that the propagation of light waves impinging onsuch blocks is affected differently at the points of abutment ofadjacent blocks than at the actual major surfaces of the blocks tends toemphasize the lines defining the points of abutment more clearly, thatis to make these lines stand out in an undesirable manner. Beyond thisthere is also the fact that known glass blocks of the type and for thepurposes outlined above, have undesirable acoustical properties.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention overcomes thedisadvantages above with respect to the prior art.

More particularly, the present invention provides a structural elementcomprising one or more blocks, which affects the propagation of lightwaves and of sound waves in a highly desirable manner which was notheretofore known in elements of this type.

Hereafter the term light factor will be utilized, and it is to beunderstood that this term refers to the propagation of light waves ingeneral, namely to the transmission of light waves through a glassblock, the reflection of light waves, the dispersion of light waves, andthe refraction of light waves; in short, any effect on the propagationof light waves which impinge against an exposed surface of a glass blockor of a wall made from such glass blocks or of an element incorporatingsuch blocks or constituted of such blocks and useable for the erectionof walls.

Briefly stated, one feature of my invention relates to the provision ofa structural element which is particularly suitable for use in wallstructures. This structural element, in accordance with my invention,comprises at least one block which consists of vitreous material. Theblock has a first and a second major surface, and at least the firstmajor surface has at least a portion which is inclined to a centralplane of the block so as to have with this plane a predeterminedrelationship, and at the same time to have a predetermined relationshipwith a general plane of the structural element. The selection of suchpredetermined relationship is made, of course, in order to effect aspecific desired influence on light waves and/or sound waves impingingupon the novel structural element. This being so, it is clear that thenovel structural element according to my present invention departsradically from what is known in this field because the prior art did nottake into account the specific light factor requirements of suchelements, and the specific influence which the surface construction ofsuch elements should desirably exert on the propagation of sound waves.

The improved light factor, as understood with reference to theexplanation rendered herebefore, is of particular advantage undercircumstances where light impinges upon the exposed surface of the novelstructural element at an angle of less than 30 degrees. This latterangle, namely 30 degrees, is the ordinary angle of incidence of lightbut it is considerably decreased under certain circumstances, forinstance if the wall forms a part of a building facing onto a relativelynarrow street, or under similar restrictively narrow street, or undersimilar restrictive circumstances. In such cases the amount of lightwhich can pass through the structural elements known from the prior artis relatively small and it is clear that the amount of light which isthen available on the other side of the structural element, namely onthe side opposite that onto which the light impinges, is undesirablydecreased.

It is to be understood, of course, that while the structural element hasat least one and preferably two exposed major surfaces which may besmooth or which may be provided with a suitable pattern of projectionsor depressions, if the structural element consists of several buildingblocks then its exposed major surfaces are in turn constituted by theindividual major surfaces of the respective building blocks, and theseindividual major surfaces of the building blocks or portions of suchsurfaces will in conjunction with one another provide a pattern on themajor surface or surfaces of the structural element. The major surfacesof the individual building blocks, in turn, may be provided withsuitable patterns so that in effect a larger pattern resulting from thecooperation of portions of the individual major surfaces of the variousbuilding blocks is superimposed on a smaller pattern which is providedon each of the major surfaces of the individual blocks.

Various surface configurations have been found particularly advantageousfor the novel structural element, whether it be constituted of a singlebuilding block or a plurality of building blocks. Thus, it has beenfound that particularly desirable characteristics are obtained withrespect to influencing the propagation of sound waves impinging upon themajor surfaces of the element, if at least one major surface, andpreferably both of the major surfaces, are convexly curved with thecurvature encompassing substantially the entire area of the respectivesurface. It is to be noted that this configuration also advantageouslyinfluences the light factor.

In another embodiment of the invention, both major surfaces of the novelstructural element are provided with identical geometric configurations,and I prefer to have these configurations be arranged in mirror-reversedrelationship with reference to a common plane of symmetry. It is alsoadvantageous if these configurations are angularly offset with respectto one another.

For circumstances where it is particularly important that incident lightimpinging on one major surface of the novel element be conveyed to theother major surface of the element, and thereby enter the interior ofthe room of whose wall or walls the novel element constitutes a portion,I found it to be particularly advantageous if the geometricconfiguration of one major surface is identical with that of the othermajor surface, but constitues a negative replica. thereof. In amodification of this embodiment the positive and the negativeconfiguration can be angularly offset with respect to one anotheralthough -I prefer not to do so because it is advantageous that thestructural element, and in this context particularly the individualbuilding block have identical thickness throughout.

An improvement in the light factor, and indeed in many instances in thedefusion of sound waves can also be achieved by so constructing theindividual building block that at least one minor surface, namely one ofthe surfaces which extend between and connect the major surfaces of theblock is of an outline other than rectangular. A particularlyadvantageous configuration for this is a parallogram or a parallelepipedoutline. With such an arrangement the transmissivity of the block isincreased for passage of light which impinges onto one of the majorsurfaces at an angle thereto.

As pointed out above, an outward projection is the preferred geometricconfiguration of one or both of the major surfaces of the novel element.Such outward projection should advantageously extend over the entirearea of the respective surfaces and it has been found that it isparticularly effective to have this projection be convex. However, otherconfigurations are also advantageous. Generally speaking, it isparticularly advantageous that the projections have at least one planeof symmetry which extends normal to the central plane of the element. Inanother embodiment the projection may have two planes of symmetry whichpreferably extend normal to one another as well as to the central planeof the element. It is also advantageous to have the geometricconfiguration of the respective major surface be constituted of aplurality of mutually inclined smooth facets, although the facets can ofcourse themselves be provided with patterns or the like. In this contextit is to be understood that if the projection is convexly curved, thenit will of course incorporate an infinite number of such facets.

Lest the term structural element applied to both a single block and aplurality of blocks combined with one another be confusing, it should berestated here that the term comprises both a single block and aplurality of such blocks, preferably two, four or another even number.If more than one block is involved, the element will have at least onemajor exposed face which is composed of the major faces of the variousconstituent blocks. Inasmuch as the geometric configuration of the majorsurfaces of the respective blocks together constitute the superimposedlarger-dimensioned or larger-pattern geometric configuration of theexposed face of the composite element, it is advantageous that where themajor surfaces of the respective blocks are identical with one another,

they be angularly offset with respect to one another so as to obtain thedesired superimposed configuration for the exposed surface of thecomposite element. This makes it possible to use only a single type ofblock, with no deviations in the size or configuration for all desiredpurposes, and thus results in economics of manufacture and construction.

An advantage of a wall structure erected with the elements of thepresent invention is the increased structural stability which isobtained, as well as the fact that the geometric configuration of theindividual major surfaces of the blocks as well as the superimposedgeometric configuration of the exposed face of the element together soinfluence the transmissivity of light through the element that it isimpossible to see through the element and to make out details in theinterior of a room or the like.

In accordance with the invention I further contemplate that at least Oneedge of one of the major surfaces of the block which constitutes a partof the exposed face of the multi-block element, and which abuts asimilar one of an adjacent block, comprise two mutually inclinedportions. With this I achieve an influence on the light factor,particularly on the light transmissivity of the element, which isconsiderably superior to anything known from the prior art and which atthe same time serves to optically supress the aesthetically not verypleasing abutment line between two adjacent blocks.

Where a composite element consisting of a plurality of blocks isinvolved, it is also advantageous that the geometric structuralconfiguration of at least one of the major surfaces of the respectiveblocks is such that at least two opposite lateral edges of at least oneof the major surfaces of at least one of the blocks of the elementextend beyond the general plane of the element by at least part of theirextension, and that they are offset longitudinally with respect to oneanother. This also acts to further enhance the desired light factorbecause ofl'setting the abutting edges makes it possible, particularlyif the light impinges at an angle, for more light to penetrate thanwould other- 'wise be the case, because not as much of the light willencounter the abutting edges. A similar result, or an improvement of theaforementioned result can be obtained by having at least one lateraledge of at least one of the major surfaces of the respective blockconsist of two portions which are mutually inclined with respect to oneanother and to a plane which is normal to the general plane of theelement. This configuration is particularly advan- .tageous if theelement consist only of a single block.

Another advantageous embodiment according to the present inventionprovides that at least two lateral edges of at least one of the majorsurfaces of a block be inclined with respect to the central plane of theblock which results in particularly advantageous improvements in thelight factor and in the influence on the propagation of sound waves.

It is well known, of course, that walls which are constructed withstructural elements of vitreous material are reinforced by framing whichconsists of vertical and horizontal bars or the like. Similarreinforcement is utilized in the present instance also and it must beunderstood that any offsetting, inclining and/ or mutual angling of theaforementioned lateral edges must be such that the bars of thereinforcing frame will not project beyond the general plane of theelement; in other words, these bars must not become visible. Theparticular configuration of the bars can be chosen at will. Normally,the bars will be straight, but it is of course possible to provide themwith inclined portions if it is necessary to provide such inclinationsof the lateral edges of the major surfaces, or angling of these edges,that exposure of the bars would become unavoidable unless they werethemselves provided with inclined portions. It need not be particularlypointed out that, quite in keeping with the conventional art, the minorsurfaces of each block, that is the surfaces extending from one to theother of the major surfaces, are provided with recesses or grooves inwhich the rods or bars are received, and which recesses or grooves canthen be filled with cement or mortar to thereby firmly embed the rods orbars therein.

I prefer that the outline of my novel elements, and specifically in thiscase of my individual blocks, be quadratic or rectangular. This, it willbe understood, refers to the outline of the major surfaces and is by nomeans exclusive because other outlines can be chosen without detractingfrom the favorable light factor values and in fluences on propagation ofsound waves which are achieved with the present invention. The minorsurfaces are in all instances substantially normal to the general planeof the structural element but it must again be emphasized that aninclination of these minor surfaces relative to this general plane is byno means to be excluded.

Other advantageous configurations of the various surfaces of theindividual building blocks and the structural element consisting of oneor more blocks will become apparent from the further descriptionfollowing hereafter.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for theinvention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. Theinvention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method ofoperation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, willbe best understood from the following description of specificembodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective view of abuilding block in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the block shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a wall portion comprising fourstructural elements each of which includes four of the building blocksshown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side view of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but showing another embodiment ofthe invention;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 3, but showing the building blocksillustrated in FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a side View of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention inform of another building block;

FIG. 10 is a side view of the building block shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is yet a further embodiment of my novel build ing block shown ina perspective view;

FIG. 12 is a side view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG. 7 'but illustrating the use of thebuilding blocks of FIG. 11;

FIG. 14 is a perspective illustration somewhat similar to FIG. 13, butillustrating a modified wall portion erected with the building blocksshown in FIG. 11;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of yet an additional embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 16 is a top-plan view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a view similar to FIG. 13 but employing the novel block shownin FIG. 15

FIG. 18 is a view similar to FIG. 14 but also employing the novel blockshown in FIG. 15;

FIG. 19 illustrates an additional embodiment of the invention in aperspective view;

FIG. 20 is a side view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 19;

FIG. 21 is a view somewhat similar to FIG. 3, but using the embodimentshown in FIG. 19;

FIG. 22 is a side view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 21;

FIG. 23 is yet a further embodiment of the present invention shown in aperspective view;

FIG. 24 is a side view of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 23;

FIG. 25 shows a modification of the embodiment of FIG. 23 in a sideview;

FIG. 26 shows another modification of the embodiment of FIG. 23, also ina side view;

FIG. 27 shows yet a further embodiment of the novel invention in aperspective view;

FIG. 28 is a side view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 27;

FIG. 29 is a modification of the embodiment shown in FIG. 27,illustrated in side view; and

FIG. 30 is a further modification, also shown in side view, of theembodiment illustrated in FIG. 27.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS It is to be noted that in thedrawing identical parts are identified with identical reference numeralsand it will be understood that some of the elements illustrated in thedrawing are illustrated in somewhat schematic form to facilitateunderstanding by leaving out non-essential details. Each individualbuilding block shown in the drawing has two opposite major surfaceswhich are joined by four mutually inclined minor surfaces, theinclination of these minor surfaces relative to one another beingdegrees. In the illustrated embodiments each of the minor surfaces islocated in a plane which is normal to central plane of the respectivebuilding block or, where an element comprises two or more blocks, normalto the general plane of the element.

, Throughout the drawing it will be found that the rods or barsconstituting the frame for the building blocks are identified withreference numeral 27 and are here illustrated as straight rods. Noattempt is made to illustrate or describe how these rods are joined intoa frame because this is well known from the prior art.

It must also be kept in mind in considering the drawing that in most ofthe figures, the central plane of the block or the general plane of theelement or the wall erected with the help of the element or the block isindicated by vertical and horizontal chain lines, that is dotand-dashlines, and in some instances where this is believed desirable tofacilitate understanding, the direction normal to this general plane isalso indicated by similar chain-lines.

Discussing the drawing now in detail with this preface in mind, andfirstly FIGS. 1 and 2 thereof, it will be seen that the novel buildingblock illustrated therein will constitute, in conjunction withadditional identical building blocks, a structural element of the typeillustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. The building block shown in FIG. 1 isidentified generally with reference numeral 17 and is of identicalthickness throughout. The block comprises two opposite major surfaces 10and 11, and it will be seen that each of these major surfaces issubdivided by a diagonally extending line 22 into a first portion 21which extends parallel to the central plane of the block and a secondportion 20 which is inclined to this central plane and to the diagonalline 22, as is clearly evident from both FIGS. 1 and 2. An inspection ofFIG. 3 clearly shows that four blocks of the type shown in FIG. 1,angularly offset with respect to one another, together constitute astructural element whose exposed face 18 is provided with a projectionin form of an equilateral pyramid 23 whose base lines are constituted bythe respective diagonal lines 22 of each of the blocks 17 here involved.It will also be seen that the pyramid-shaped projection 23 extends overthe entire height and width of the structural element consisting of fourblocks 17, as is clearly evident from FIG. 3 where four of thesestructural elements together constitute a wall portion. It should benoted that the thickness of the structural elements is identicalthroughout all four of these elements because the other opposed face 19(see FIG. 4) of the wall portion constituted by the four structuralelements 12 is also provided with pyramid shaped geometricconfigurations 25 which, however, constitute negatives of theprojections 23 provided on the exposed face 19.

It is clear that the superimposed pyramid-shaped configuration of a wallconstructed with the structural elements 12 shown in FIG. 3 is obtainedsimply by angularly offsetting the individual blocks which togetherconstitute each of the elements 12, despite the fact that each of theblocks is identically the same as all of the other blocks. This ispossible because all of the abutment edges, such as the abutment edges26 visible in FIG. 3 along which the individual blocks contact oneanother and define the pyramid-shaped projection, constitute lines ofabutment between adjacent viewable portions 10 of abutting blocks whichmakes it possible to utilize the abutment lines 26 decoratively as apart of the pattern, rather than to have them provided a jarringappearance which is detrimental to the aesthetics of the completedstructure. It goes without saying that this arrangement also improvesthe static characteristics of a structure erected in this manner. Itwill be evident from FIGv 1 in particular that the minor surfaces 13 and14 are in this embodiment of rectangular configuration, whereas theminor surfaces 15 and 16 are of parallelogram-shaped outline.

Coming now to the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 8, it will be seenthat the building block shown in FIG. 5 is identified generally withreference numeral 17a and differs from that shown in FIG. 1 in that themajor surfaces of the block in FIG. 5, which are identified withreference numerals and 11' respectively, are each subdivided into twoidentical portions 20' and 21' along a diagonal 22 in the case of thesurface 10 and a diagonal 22 in the case of the surface 11. Theinclination of the respective portions 20', and 21 with respect to acentral plane of the block 17a is identical with the result that a planecoincident with the diagonal 22 or 22" and being normal to the centralplane of the block constitutes a plane of symmetry for the portions 20and 21' of the respective major surfaces 10' and 11. However, it is tobe noted that the diagonal 22" which in FIG. 5 is shown on therearwardly directed major surface 11' and is therefore indicated indashed lines, is angularly offset by 90 degrees with respect to thediagonal 22", that is it extends normal to the latter. The various minorsurfaces of the block shown in FIG. 5, namely the minor surfacesidentified with referencenumerals 13' and 14' respectively, of whichthere are each two opposed ones, all are of parallelogram outline.

The side view shown in FIG. 6 of the block illustrated in FIG. 5 isself-explanatory and need not be further discussed. The illustration inFIGS. 7 and 8 shows a portion of a wall structure erected from blocksidentical with that shown in FIG. 5. As clearly evident from FIG. 7 andalso from FIG. 8, the wall structure has two exposed faces 18 and 19which as a result of angular offsetting of the blocks 17a with respectto one another are provided with a plurality of identically configuratedpyramid-shaped projections 31 which each has a quadratic base, and it isto be noted that each base line constituted by one of the diagonals 22in the case of the face 18' and one of the diagonals 22 in the case ofthe face 19 is common to two adjacent pyramid-shaped projections.Inasmuch as all of the adjoining minor surfaces '16 are flat, thereinforcing bars 27 can abut directly against these minor surfaces. Thegeneral outline of each of the blocks, as is evident from FIG. 7, andparticularly from FIG. 5, is quadratic in this embodiment but it isclear from FIGS. 7 and 8 that those of the minor surfaces which arelocated in a common horizontal or vertical plane (compare FIG. 8, forexample) and belonging to abutting ones of the blocks together form azig-zag shaped configuration. It will be evident from FIG. 8 inparticular, that this zig-zag shaped inclination of the minor surfacesresults in a total base width of for each of the blocks shown in FIG. 5which is almost twice that known from the prior art blocks, that is theusual rectangular or quadratic type of block. This is, of course, theresult of the fact that the offsetting of the lines of abutment 28,which takes place in the direction normal tothe general plane of thetotal wall structure, corresponds nearly to the entire thickness of eachof the minor surfaces of the block. The term nearly is being used hereadvisedly, because it is necessary that the reinforcing bars 11 beaccommodated in the existing differential so as not to be visible ateither of the faces 18, 19' of the wall structure.

Corning now to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, it will be seenthat the block illustrated there is generally indicated with referencenumeral 17b. This block is of quadratic outline and its major surfaces10b, 11b are each subdivided into four identical quadrants by two majordividing lines 41, 42 which cross one another at right angles. Thus,each section of the respective major surface corresponding to one of thequadrants is inclined to two planes, coincident with the lines 41 and 42and normal to the central plane of the block. In turn, eachv of theresulting quadrants is further subdivided into two mutually inclinedportions by additional secondary lines 44, 44, 44", and 44" which extendthrough the juncture of the lines 41 and 42 and to the corners 45 of theblock 17b. All portions of the respective major surfaces are in thisembodiment smooth and planar and the minor surfaces 13b, 14b, 15b and16b are similarly planar and of other-than-rectangular outline.

A further embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12where the block shown there is generally indicated with referencenumeral 170. This block is provided with two major surfaces 10" and 11",each of which is composed of two mutually inclined surface portions 48and 49 which are symmetrically inclined to a plane normal to the centralplane of the block and which include with one another an acute angle.FIGS. 12 and 14 both show that this block has lateral minor surfaces 14"of rectangular outline and horizontal minor surfaces 13 ofother-than-rectangular outline, can be used to erect a structure such asthat which is illustrated in FIG. 13 in which each of the blocks 17cconstitutes a wall element per se. FIG. 13 is self-explanatory and neednot be further described. FIG. 14 shows that two of the blocks 170, withtheir positions suitably reversed so that the major surface 10" of oneis located at the same side as the major surface 11" of the other, cantogether constitute a structural wall element 12".

The embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 15 and 16, where the block isgenerally identified with reference numeral 174, differs from thepreceding embodiments in that its ma or surfaces 10d and 11d areparallel in planes parallel to each other and do not comprise surfaceportions which are lnclined with reference to one another. Rather eachof the major surfaces 10d and 11d is planar, but is inclined at an anglein its totality to the central plane of the block. and thus also to thegeneral plane 79 of a structural element composed of several of theblocks 17d, as indicated 1n FIG. 16. As a result of the inclination ofthe surfaces 10d and 11d as described above, and because these surfacesare further offset with respect to one another in parallel-relationship,the minor surfaces 13d and 15d are of parallelepiped outline such thatthey are inclined 1n the direction normal to the general plane 79, whilethe outline of the minor surfaces 14d and 16d is in the lllustratedembodiment rectangular. FIGS. 17 and 18 show that the block shown inFIGS. 15 and 16 can be used for composing structural wall elements ofdifferent configurations, for instance the wall elements 12d in FIG. 17,where two of the blocks 17d together constitute a wall element, or thewall elements 12e shown in FIG. 18, where again two of the blocks 17dtogether constitute one wall element but in an arrangement differentfrom that employed in FIG. 17. The differences between FIGS. 17 and 18are so obvious that a specific detailed description of these figures isnot believed to be necessary since there can be no doubt as to thearrangements from a perusal of these figures.

Whereas the structural elements shown in FIGS. 17 and 18 are so arrangedthat their surfaces are inclined in the horizontal to the general planeof the wall structure,

it is evident that the arrangement can also be so selected that theinclination is to a vertical instead. This goes not only for theillustrations in FIGS. 17 and 18 but also for the arrangements shown inFIGS. 13 and 14, and it is to be pointed out relative to all of thesearrangements that they provide highly advantageous acousticalproperties, and similarly advantageous light factor characteristics.These latter characteristics assure, particularly if light impinges inthe direction of the arrows A or B (FIG. 18) that the lighttransmissivity of the structure is much less impaired than is known fromthe prior art, this being particularly the result of the fact that theabutment lines 28' extend transversely of the direction from which thelight impinges onto the structure.

Coming now to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 19 and 20 it will be seenthat this is reminiscent of that illustrated in FIGS. 15 and 16. Theblock shown in FIGS. 19 and 20 is generally identified with referencenumeral 17 and comprises two planar major surfaces and 11] both of whichare disposed in planes parallel to one another and inclined to thegeneral central plane of the block. Unlike the embodiment of FIGS. and16, however, the block shown in FIGS. 19 and is inclined to the centralplane not only in one direction but in two directions; in other words,the particular inclination here is obtained by rotating the majorsurfaces through two axes which are parallel to the original generalplane of the block and which are normal to one another. As a result,each of the minor surfaces 13 and 14 defines in its embodiment aparallelogram-shaped outline.

An example of a combination of the blocks shown in FIGS. 19 and 20 intocomposite structurel elements is illustrated in FIGS. 21 and 2.2. Thewall portion shown in FIG. 21 is composed of four structural elements121, 12g, 12h, and 121' of which each in turn consists of four of theblocks 14] which are angularly rotated with reference to one another, asis clearly evident from FIG. 21, to thereby obtain a pyramid-shapedprojection and an adjoining pyramid-shaped depression. This is sobecause, if one draws an imaginary diagonal 58 on each of the visiblemajor surfaces 10f-10i of the four blocks constituting one of thestructural elements, then these imaginary diagonals 58 can be consideredthe base lines of the pyramid which, as is clearly evident from FIG. 21,has a quadratic base. The remaining portions, such as those identifiedwith reference numeral 59 in FIG. 21, of each visible major surface ofeach block, that is those surface portions which do not contribute tothe pyramid-shaped projection, are of course located in the same planeas those surface portions which do contribute to the pyramid-shapedprojection, because the diagonals 58 do not constitute lines ofinclination. At the same time, these remaining surface portions 59 ofadjacent ones of the blocks cooperate to provide pyramid-shapedimpressions which, with reference to the base lines of thepyramid-shaped projection, are mirror-symmetrical replicas of thisprojection.

Coming now to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 23 and 24, it will be seenthat the block illustrated there is identified generally with referencenumeral 17k and that it differs from the embodiments heretoforeillustrated in that all of its minor surfaces 13k and 14k are ofrectangular outline. Each of the major surfaces 10k and 11k is providedwith a pyramid-shaped configuration 61, 62' of which, as is evident fromFIG. 24, the configuration 6 1 is a concavity whereas the configuration62 is convex. The base lines of both configurations are coincident withor very close the edges of the respective major surfaces.

It is clear that a composite structural element will be obtained bydisposing at least two of the blocks 17k shown in FIGS. 23 and 24 insuch a manner that the major surface 10k of one block, with the concavedepression 61 therein, is located on the same side as the major surface11k of the other block with the convex projection 62 thereon. It is alsoclear that FIGS. 25 and 26 illustrate modifications of the embodimentshown in FIG. 23, in that FIG. 25 illustrates a block 17m in side viewwhose two major surfaces 10m and 11m are both provided withmirror-symmetrical concavities of pyramidal configuration, whereas theblock 17p shown in FIG. 26 is provided on both major surfaces 10p and11p thereof with pyramidshaped convex projections. The minor surfaces ofthe blocks shown in FIGS. 23-26, such as the surfaces 13k, 14k, 13m and14p, are of rectangular outline in these illustrated embodiments. Itgoes without saying that the various embodiments illustrated in FIGS.23, 25 and 26, can also be combined with one another in a singlestructural element to obtain desired light factor characteristics ordesired influences on the propagation of sound waves, as well as toobtain specific patterns and appearances.

Coming now to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 27 and 28 where the novelblock is generally indicated with reference numerals 17r, it will beseen that this is somewhat similar to the embodiment in FIGS. 23 and 24.The block is again provided with substantially quadratic major surfaces10r and 111', and the minor surfaces Br and 15r are of rectangularoutline. Unlike the embodiment in FIGS. 23 and 24, however, the blockshown in FIGS. 27

and 28 is provided in one of its major surfaces, namely in the oneidentified with reference numeral 101' with an arcuate recess and on itsmajor surface 11r with an arcuate projection. In both cases thecurvature of the respective recess or projection is constant so that therecess or concavity as well as the projection each constitute a sectorof a sphere.

Finally, FIGS. 29 and 30 are actually self-explanatory modifications ofthe embodiment shown in FIGS. 27 and 28. FIG. 29 shows a block 17s whichdiffers from the block 17r in FIG. 27 in that both of its major surfaces10s and 11s are provided with mirror-symmetrical arcuate recesses ofconstant curvature. The minor surfaces 14s are again of rectangularoutline. The embodiment shown in FIG. 30 illustrates a block 17t whoseminor surfaces 14t are also of rectangular outline whereas both of itsmajor surfaces 10! and 11t are provided with arcuate pro ections 10! andIII corresponding to the projection 11r illustrated in FIG. 28 and, inaccordance with what has been said in that figure, of constant curvatureto thereby constitute sectors of a sphere. Needless to say the sameconditions obtain in FIGS. 27-30 which have been mentioned with respectto FIGS. 23-26, namely the blocks 17r, 17s and 171 in FIGS. 27, 39 and30 can be combined with one another in any desired manner to obtain acomposite structural element or to obtain certain light factors or topermit influencing of the propogation of sound waves impinging on such astructural element.

To avoid confusion the composite structural elements illustrated in thevarious figures have always been shown to be constituted of identicalblocks. It will be clear, however, that non-identical blocks can becombined to compose a composite structural element, just as it ispossible to erect a wall structure by using non-identical compositestructural elements wherein each structural element may in turn becomposed of identical or non-identical blocks.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or twoor more together, may also find a useful application in other types ofelements, differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in astructural element, it is not intended to be limited to the detailsshown since various modifications and structural changes may be madewithout departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofthe present invention that others can, by applying current knowledgereadily adapt it for various applications without omitting featuresthat, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essentialcharacteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this inventionand, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to becomprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of thefollowing claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent isset forth in the appended claims:

1. A wall construction comprising a plurality of structural elementseach of which has four contact surfaces forming a rectangular polygonhaving four corners, four edge surfaces, and integral front and rearvisible surfaces spaced from each other by said edge surfaces, saidfront surface including first pairs of right isosceles triangles theapices of which extend in diametrically opposite directions to twodiagonally opposite corners and with the bases of said trianglesextending along a common line between the other diagonally oppositecorners, the triangles of said first pair being disposed in obtuseangular relation, the rear surface of said element having a second pairof right isosceles triangles the apices of which are rotated 90 relativeto the apices of the first pair of triangles, said second pair oftriangles extending in diametrically opposite directions to twodiagonally opposite corners and with the bases of said trianglesextending along a common line between the other diagonally oppositecorners, the triangles of said second pair being disposed in obtuseangular relation, whereby the wall formed from a plurality of saidelements includes at least four right isosceles triangles which liecontiguous to a common corner which triangles are inclined inwardlyrelative to 7 12 struction having alternating depressed areas andoutwardly projecting areas.

2. A structural element for use in a Wall comprising four contactsurfaces forming a rectangular polygon having four corners, four edgesurfaces, and integral front and rear visible surfaces, said frontsurface including first pairs of right isosceles triangles the apices ofwhich are arranged to extend in diametrically opposite directions to twodiagonally opposite corners and with the bases of said trianglesextending along a common line between the other diagonally oppositecorners, the triangles of said first pair being disposed in obtuseangular relation, the rear surface of said element having second pairsof right isosceles triangle the apices of which are rotated relative tothe apices of the first pair of triangles, said second pair of trianglesextending in diametrically opposite directions to two diagonallyopposite corners of the element and with the bases of said last-namedtriangles extending along a common line, between the other diagonallyopposite corners, the triangles of said second pair being disposed inobtuse angular relation.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,918,992 12/1959 Gelsavage 52813,435,576 4/1969 Giannelia 52-594 3,462,062 8/1969 Miller 229-8 D.193,392 8/1962 Kingsbury D182 3,068,754 12/1962 Benjamin 350-2593,263,322 8/ 1966 Brown 29446 HENRY C. SUTHERLAND, Primary Examiner US.Cl. X.R.

